Formula 750
{{for|the car racing formula|750 Formula}}
{{Infobox motorsport championship
| name = Formula 750
| category = Motorcycle racing
| inaugural = 1973
| folded = 1979
| champion rider = Patrick Pons
}}
File:Peter Williams - JPS Norton cropped.JPG on the JPS-liveried 1974 'Spaceframe' Norton factory F750 racerMotorcyclist Illustrated, June 1974. Rear page John Player Norton colour advertisement. "A new look, a new bike, and a new season." Accessed and added 2 October 2014]]
Formula 750 was a FIM motorcycle road racing series based on a 750 cubic centimeter engine capacity.
History
The series began in 1971 as a collaboration between the American Motorcyclist Association and the Auto Cycle Union.{{cite web |url=https://en.motospot-oldnews.com/single-post/formula-750cc-from-creation-to-disappearance |title=Formula 750cc, from creation to disappearance! |publisher=motospot-oldnews.com |access-date=25 April 2025}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_cDAAAAMBAJ&q=american+motorcyclist+formula+750&pg=PA18 |title=Formula 750: A Progress Report |date=August 1971 |work=American Motorcyclist |access-date=15 December 2012 |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist }}{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclenews.com/2019/12/article/archives-the-short-lived-but-influential-world-championship/ |title=Archives: The Short-Lived, but Influential World Championship |publisher=cyclenews.com |accessdate=18 June 2023 }} The FIM adopted the Formula 750 class for events in 1972.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e_YDAAAAMBAJ&q=american+motorcyclist+formula+750&pg=PA20 |title=International Report |date=December 1971 |work=American Motorcyclist |access-date=15 December 2012 |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist }}
In 1973 it became a British-based series. In 1975 the series was upgraded to European championship status and in 1977, it attained world championship status.{{cite web|url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/110th-fim-anniversary-flash-back-1976-1979/|title=FIM History Flash Back 1796-1979|work=FIM-live.com|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218163229/http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/110th-fim-anniversary-flash-back-1976-1979/|archive-date=18 February 2017}}
The Formula 750 class was seen as possibly overtaking the 500cc Grand Prix class as the premier racing division. However, the ultimate domination by one model (the Yamaha TZ750) as well as the increasingly popular superbike production class meant that the FIM discontinued the class after the 1979 season.
File:Yamaha TZ750 1976.jpg|Yamaha TZ750
File:BSA Rocket 3 1971.jpg|alt=Red-and-white racing motorcycle in museum|John Cooper 1971 BSA Rocket 3 F750 class
Formula 750 champions
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| Season
! Rider ! Manufacturer |
|---|
| 1973
| {{flagicon|UK}} Barry Sheene | Suzuki |
| 1974
| {{flagicon|AUS}} John Dodds | Yamaha |
| 1975
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Jack Findlay | Yamaha |
| 1976
| {{flagicon|ESP|1945}} Víctor Palomo | Yamaha |
| 1977
| {{flagicon|USA}} Steve Baker | Yamaha |
| 1978
| {{flagicon|VEN|1954}} Johnny Cecotto | Yamaha |
| 1979
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Patrick Pons | Yamaha |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200225184518/http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/the-formula-750/ FIM page about the development of the category - partial access only] Archived from [http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/the-formula-750/ the original] on 25 February 2020
{{Formula 750}}
{{MotoGP}}
{{motorcycle-racing-stub}}